Christiarn Hall, a star on the ice

SHE may only be 15 years old, but Christiarn Hall is already an international ice hockey star.

SHE may only be 15 years old, but Christiarn Hall is already an international ice hockey star.

Hall has recently returned home from Vierumäki, Finland, where she was one of just four Australians chosen to participate in the International Ice Hockey Federation development camp.

The Windsor resident was the only player picked from NSW, playing ice hockey a long way away from her fellow competitors at Winmalee Public School.

Hall said it was terrific, yet hectic experience.

‘‘Each day we had between two and three on-ice sessions of one and half hours each,’’ she said.

‘‘We did a lot of team building exercises and games. The final session we played a game against each other.

‘‘We were split into six teams made up of girls from all over the world.

‘‘It was an amazing experience.

"We visited the [Finnish] Lakes, and got to play around there. That was fantastic.’’

The trip was sponsored by Ice Hockey Australia, and father Anthony said the whole family was proud to watch her compete on the world stage. “To watch her grow and develop at the sport is very satisfying,” he said.

“I’m very, very proud of what she has achieved so far. It feels really special.

“It’s one of those things that would make any parent proud.”

In May this year Christiarn was one of nine Hawkesbury students awarded a Local Sporting Champions Grant, presented to her by Macquarie MP Louise Markus.

But the camp in Finland wasn’t the first experience Hall has had abroad. “She made a couple of trips to play hockey overseas last year, to Japan in July and New Zealand in December,” Anthony said.

“For the New Zealand trip she was the captain of the team.”

Hall currently plays in national tournaments as a member of the Sydney Sirens team, part of the Australian Women’s Ice Hockey league, which is the highest level of competition for women in Australia.

She also plays for the Penrith Phantoms and aims to represent Australia in the over 18s league in the not too distant future.

She would like to thank Valley Meats and Panthers at North Richmond for all their support. And any business looking to support Christiarn can call 4588 0807.